Delaware Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center
New Castle, DE
managing complexity for
state-of-the-art
The Delaware Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center is one of the largest, most complex, high-end, green, and challenging projects of its kind in our portfolio. It serves as an administration building and training facility for the Delaware Army National Guard, Navy Reserve, and Delaware Air National Guard, and is the main command and control center for the State of Delaware, with all of the systems and facilities necessary for handling a regional emergency.
The 109,000 sf building is a two-story, steel frame structure with insulated exterior metal panels and a natural stone veneer for which each stone had to be chipped and shaped by hand on site. Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection is incorporated, including blast-resistant curtain wall construction. There is a full-fledged medical clinic, classrooms, fitness center, locker room areas, food preparation, multipurpose room, and heated storage. The server room and operations control room have recessed concrete foundations to allow for access panel flooring. A massive amount of rebar was used in the arms vault’s 10-inch-thick concrete walls and roof to meet strict security guidelines.
How Harkins Made a Difference
- Harkins Builders staffed the project with team members who were well-versed in USACE and NAVFAC procedures and requirements. This resulted in a high-quality product and a safer working environment for all workers.
- Partnering with an SDBE, Vigil Contracting, allowed Harkins to share strategies and expertise for this complex, highly-specialized project.
- Harkins overcame the issues that can occur when the design team is located outside of the project’s immediate area. Utilizing various technologies and software (including Skype and Bluebeam), Harkins maintained constant contact with the design team and addressed issues in a collaborative manner.
- Our detailed coordination of the design and construction process through the use of BIM modeling allowed components like plumbing systems to be manufactured or assembled off-site. This saved time, labor, and money during actual installation on the construction site.
I hold Harkins in high regard. Their focus on safety and quality control was exceptional. The field team and the executive team were easy to work with and were willing to answer any questions that I had throughout the entire project.
Awards & Certifications
ABC Eastern PA
Awards of Excellence – Excellence Award
USGBC
LEED for NC – Gold (Registered)